Why So Blu?

I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season One (Blu-ray Review)

When I think back to my earliest childhood and ponder about television shows that aired way before this sexy beast who’s typing this ever walked the Earth, I fondly recall such shows a Happy Days, Leave it to Beaver and of course who can forget everyone’s favorite, crazy redhead, Lucille Ball, and her equally crazy onscreen husband, Desi Arnaz, in I Love Lucy.  In all honesty, that’s one of those rare black & white series, in my opinion, that truly has transcended the generations as I can still turn it on the boob tube now and laugh equally as hard at Lucy and her onscreen antics as I did when I was a child at the dinner table or as a teenager after school (we did not have the Internet back then and only six television channels).  So imagine my joy when CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount announced they were bringing I Love Lucy to my favorite home media format, Blu-ray.  And not only that, but every episode has been transferred from the original camera negative, producing crisp details, and rich sharp blacks.  Come on!  I’ll show you around this 6-disc Blu-ray television set!

Season 

I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season One brings home to the Blu-ray format the hilarious first episodes of the groundbreaking series starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, William Frawley and Vivian Vance.  This set delivers upon such classics as the “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” episode selling Vitameatavegamin are never-before seen treats, and crazy extras like Lucy and Desi’s makeup and wardrobe tests where the off-screen couple are filmed together just days before full-scale production began.  How cool is that?!  It’s like an I Love Lucy fan’s biggest dream come true in this 6-disc set!  Yes!  You read it right!  Six discs are housed in this once-in-a-lifetime Blu-ray set containing historic events like the pilot episode, re-mastered from its recently discovered original 35mm negative, beloved episodes like “The Ballet,” “Pioneer Women” and “The Freezer,” radio broadcasts, on-set color home movies and backstage photos and so much more that will be discussed and laid out in full down below.  But for now!  Let’s talk about that crazy redhead some more!

I make it no secret when I say I consider I Love Lucy one of the greatest television comedic sitcoms ever.  To this day you can always turn on your now high-definition television sets and tune into a repeat here or there.  And you may even find yourself succumbing to a whole day’s worth of viewing if they’re showing a marathon or something.  It’s not only nostalgic, but it just feels fresh!  There just must have been some kind of magic voodoo and chemistry going on around the set when this series was filmed.  The most recent show I could ever say the same thing about in my generation would be that of Seinfeld, but that’s a whole other can of worms to fish with.  There’s no crazy redhead starring in that series so let me get back on topic here.

I’m not even sure I can do this show any justice by talking about it here at all.  That’s why I’ not rambling on and on like I usually do in my long, bloated reviews.  It’s just one of those rare cultural phenomena that has to be experienced by fans over and over and even screened for newcomers (virgins) too!  I Love Lucy ranked very highly on the Nielsen ratings throughout its 6-season run from 1951 to 1957 on CBS.  It was also the first scripted television program to be shot on 35 mm film in front of a studio audience and went on to win 5 Emmy Awards!  And as I mentioned before, the show is still syndicated like crazy around the world.  So when I say it was a “cultural phenomenon,” I honestly mean it and that’s not just my opinion.  That’s everyone’s opinion!  If you don’t believe me, check out this next factoid.  In 2012 it was voted the “Best TV Show of All Time” in a survey conducted by ABC News and People magazine.  Those two don’t lie, yo!

You want to see something mind blowing?  Of course you do!  Take a gander of everything you will find here episode-wise.  Wow!  Below is the full list of all 35 season one episodes.  The summaries have been provided courtesy of the Blu-ray insert I copied them from.  Now get this!  Episodes are available with original commercial content  and in some cases viewers may select to view the episode’s original broadcast production or altered rerun versions.  How cool is that?!   Also included in the menu are the original film dates and original air dates.

*

Disc One:

• The I Love Lucy Pilot: Ricky tries to keep Lucy away from his TV audition, but when a clown can’t make it, Lucy shows up in his place.

• The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub: A spat aver where to go on the Mertzes’ anniversary leaves the men and women celebrating separately, until Lucy and Ethel show up in Hillbilly disguises as Ricky and Fred’s blind dates.

• Be a Pal: Lucy tries everything to rekindle romance with Ricky — pouring on the glamour, joining his poker game, even turning the apartment into “Little Havana.”

• The Diet: Ricky will finally let Lucy be in his show — if she can starve and steam her way into a size 12 costume.

• Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her: After reading a murder mystery and listening to Ethel’s fortune-telling, Lucy is convinced that Ricky is planning on doing away with her.

Disc Two:

• The Quiz Show: To win $1,000, Lucy has to introduce a stranger to Ricky as her “long-lost husband.”

• The Audition: Ricky tries to keep Lucy away from his TV audition, but when a clown can’t make it, Lucy shows up in his place.

• The Séance: The Ricardos and the Mertzes host a phony séance to convince Mr. Merriweather, a Broadway producer, to hire Ricky for a show.

• Men are Messy: Tired of Ricky’s messy habits, Lucy divides the apartment in half — he can be a slob in his half, but not hers.
  

• The Fur Coat: Ricky borrows a mink coat for an act at the club, but Lucy thinks it’s for her. Now she won’t take it off!

Disc Three:

• Lucy is Jealous of a Girl Singer: Lucy, upset by a gossip column item linking Ricky with a girl at the club, dons a disguise and heads for The Tropicana.

• Drafted: Lucy and Ethel, convinced their hubbies are about to be drafted, start knitting them going-away presents.
  

• The Adagio: Lucy takes dance lessons so she can be in a number at the club. But her Parisian teacher has more than dancing on his mind.

• The Benefit: Ricky agrees to do a Vaudeville routine with Lucy for Ethel’s women’s club benefit, but when Lucy discovers that Ricky has all the punchlines, she decides to make a few changes.
  

• The Amateur Hour: Lucy lands in double trouble when she takes a baby-sitting job to earn money to pay for an expensive new dress.

• Lucy Plays Cupid: Lucy delivers a romantic note to the grocer from her shy neighbor, the elderly Miss Lewis. Now the grocer thinks that Lucy is the one who’s interested in him.

*

Disc Four:

• Lucy Fakes an Illness: Lucy fakes a nervous breakdown from Ricky keeping her out of show business.  To get even, Ricky brings home a “doctor,” who convinces her she has a rare disease.

• Lucy Writes a Play: For her club’s production, playwright Lucy pens a Cuban-themed drama to star Ricky.  He refuses the part — until he learns that a famous producer will be in the audience.
  

• Breaking the Lease: A feud with Fred and Ethel over noise has Lucy and Ricky ready to move out.  But can the Ricardos make such a racket that the Mertzes will let them out of their lease?

• The Ballet: To break into Ricky’s act, Lucy trains as a ballerina, then gets a pie-filled lesson in burlesque from a professional comic.
  

• The Young Fans: To rid Ricky of Peggy, an amorous teenage fan, Lucy teaches Peggy’s clumsy schoolmate, Arthur, how to dance. Now the schoolboy has a crush on Lucy!

• New Neighbors: Lucy is certain that the new tenants are planning to murder them.
  

*

Disc Five:

• Fred and Ethel Fight: Lucy manages to patch up a quarrel between the Mertzes, but now the Ricardos aren’t speaking to each other. To gain Ricky’s sympathy, Lucy pretends she’s been hit by a bus.

• The Moustache: To get Ricky to shave his upper lip, Lucy glues on a white beard. Only one problem — she accidentally used permanent cement!
  

• The Gossip: Ricky and Fred bet Lucy and Ethel that the girls can’t give up gossiping, then “talk in their sleep” about Mrs. Foster and the milkman.

• Pioneer Women: When the boys bet the girls they couldn’t live the same rugged existence as their ancestors, Lucy and Ethel try baking bread from scratch — using just a little bit too much yeast.
  

• The Marriage License: An error on her marriage license convinces Lucy she’s not legally married, so she drags Ricky back to Connecticut to propose to her again.

• The Kleptomaniac: Lucy’s stash of money and valuables for the women’s club bazaar has Ricky and Fred convinced that she’s been on a crime spree.
  

• Cuban Pals: Jealous of Ricky’s dance partner, the voluptuous “Renita,” Lucy schemes to take her place in the show.

*
Disc Six:

• The Freezer: After installing a walk-in meat locker in the basement, Lucy learns the hard way just how cold the new freezer is!

• Lucy Does a TV Commercial: Lucy is hired to do a commercial for “Vitameatavegamin” health tonic. After four takes she’s “happy,” but not very “peppy.”

• The Publicity Agent: Ricky’s publicity has fallen off, so Lucy dreams up a stunt that involves her posing as the “Maharincess of Farnistan.

• Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio: Lucy is so impressed at Ricky’s correct answers to a radio quiz show that she gets him booked on the show as a contestant.

• Lucy’s Schedule: To teach Lucy the importance of punctuality, Ricky puts her on a time schedule. She serves up a high-speed meal to teach him a lesson.

• Ricky Thinks He’s Getting Bald: Ricky’s worried that his hairline is receding, so Lucy decides to give him scalp treatments.
  
• Ricky Asks For a Raise: Lucy convinces Ricky to demand more pay.  Now he’s out of a job until Lucy dreams up a scheme to sabotage his replacement’s opening night booking.

Video 

I wish I could say things look Blu-ray perfect here, but I wouldn’t be doing my job effectively if I said that so bear with my grumblings down below please.  However, let’s face it.  This show is over 60 years old.  I am thankful for what we have here despite my nitpicking down below.  Make sure you keep that in mind.

• Encoding: MPEG-4 AVC
• Resolution: 1080p
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
• Clarity/Detail:  I hate to admit it, but the first episode is rather rough to watch.  Detail is very prevalent rendering the sets very fake looking, but clarity…well that’s a whole other issue altogether.  Rest assured, as the season goes on the picture quality does improve, but it’s nothing to brag about it at all.  I don’t own the VHS, DVD or LaserDisc versions of these past sets so maybe my expectations for this Blu-ray set were perhaps just a tad high.  Textures are probably where you’ll notice the most detail in this one such as garments and the walls in the apartment.
• Depth: The depth of field is kind of shallow here because of the softness in some of the backgrounds.
• Black Levels: I have no complaints here.  The blacks are rather deep throughout.
• Color Reproduction: If we are talking grayscale, then yeah…things are in check here.  Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re going to see Lucy’s fiery red hair.  Haha.
• Flesh Tones: I did say this was all in black and white, right?
• Noise/Artifacts: This is the ugliest part of the review as I noticed excessive grain, dirt, debris, black spots, flicker, white scratches, aliasing, etc.  Do I need to go on?  This is very far from being a Star Wars remaster.

Audio 

Like the video up above, and understandably so, the audio on this set is nothing to write home about either.

• Audio Format(s): English Dolby Digital Mono 2.0, Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Dynamics:  Since it’s only a mono track you didn’t expect there would be much of all to talk about here did you?  This one really is what it is.  Sound effects are passable, but you can’t help knowing the fact that they are canned.  However, you can pick out the different laughs in the laugh track and perhaps for me the greatest sounding moments here are the singing and musical performance ones.  That’s really the only dynamics you can really compare against here other than the talking because it’s a…sitcom!
• Low Frequency Extension: n/a
• Surround Sound Presentation:  n/a
• Dialogue Reproduction:  Given it’s only a mono track it’s like watching the show on an old black and white tube television set with dialogue presented clearly and effectively volume-wise throughout.  Maybe to have optimal viewing enjoyment from this one turn off the surround sound system and just listen to this one through the television speakers.  I know…blasphemy, huh?  LOL.

Extras 

The I Love Lucy: Ultimate Season 1 6-disc Blu-ray set throws in just about everything except the kitchen sink here.  Wow!  Will you ever be busy here as you tackle one supplemental feature after another spread across the wealth of 6 Blu-ray discs.  It’s just a thought, but how cool would have it been if they also provided Digital Copies of each of the episodes too?  Now to me that would have been so bad a$$!  However, I digress, beggars can’t be choosers and believe you me, CBS and Paramount DO NOT let you down in the Extras department.  No Sir Ree Bob.  So I can needlessly talk forever and bloat this paragraph full of nonsense just to make it look big and impressive or I can knock your socks off by diving into all the extras below and what you’ll find here across the 6 Blu-ray discs.  So tell me, what should I do?  Aw.  I’m just teasing you.  You have read enough of my ramblings.  Let’s talk about the goods here!

*

Disc One:

• I Love Lucy Costume & Makeup Tests (HD) – This one is available as both a “Special Presentation” (9:56) with Robert Osborne commentary and as “Raw Footage” (11:03).  “Filmed late August/early September, 1951 (Not made for broadcast).  Shortly before I Love Lucy started production, silent costume and makeup “tests” were filmed of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Director of Photography Karl Freund (and others) used the tests to evaluate everything from lighting to hair styling to wardrobe selections.  Once production of the series commenced, the tests were filed away and ultimately forgotten.  During the preparation of this Blu-ray release, we discovered the tests in the CBS vaults — wrapped in packaging that dated to the early 1950s — and are presenting them here for the first time.  Two versions of the tests are offered: one, with a special introduction and augmented commentary by Lucy’s protégé, Hollywood Historian Robert Osborne; and a second with just the silent footage itself.”
• “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show” (1990) – “Airdate: 04/30/1990.  In early 1990, Joanne Perez, the widow of “Pepito the Clown,” discovered a copy of the original I Love Lucy pilot in her collection of 16mm films.  It had been a present to her husband from Desi Arnaz back in the early 1950s, as a “Thank You” for the work Pepito had done on the Arnazes’ vaudeville act.  Ms. Perez took the film to her friend, producer B. Donald Grant, who, as a former president of CBS Television Network, knew the film (long considered lost) was highly prized.  He suggested a television special be built around it.  The special aired on CBS a few months later, ranked as the nation’s most-watched television program of the week, and was nominated for an Emmy Award.  In 1998, the special was released on VHS home video.  A new, digitally-remastered version of the special is presented here.” You are able to watch the entire episode (HD, 48:02) and outtakes (SD, 16:39): “These rare “dailies,” filmed on April 17, 1990, for “I Love Lucy: The Very First Show,” feature longtime Lucy writers Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. (Footage courtesy of writer/producer Billy Van Zandt).”
• 1951 Promo (SD, 0:21) – “Networks traditionally call attention to new programs with short promo pieces that air adjacent to other shows in their schedule.  In the fall of 1951, CBS broadcast this rarely-seen promotion for its then brand-new series, I Love Lucy.”
• Audio Commentary – “This audio documentary, produced in 1991 for inclusion on the Criterion Collection’s I Love Lucy LaserDisc, includes comments by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, writer-producer Jess Oppenheimer, writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis, director William Asher, actors Jerry Hausner, Doris Singleton and Mary Jane Croft, stage manager Herb Browar, and TV historian Bart Andrews.” From the episode “Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her.”
• Before and After (HD, 2:12) – “The original 35mm broadcast masters of I Love Lucy have been repurposed and re-edited many times throughout the years; they currently exist only as the familiar heart-on-satin version.  However, in the 1950s, long before the days of satellites, CBS sent 16mm prints to their affiliates that were not connected to the great coast-to-coast cable link — and those stations which, for one reason or another chose to air the series in a time slot other than that selected by the network.  The original (and rerun) broadcasts included on this set are derived from those low resolution 16mm prints, many of which now have a great deal of film deterioration issues as well as “backed in” dust and debris that dates back to when they were originally created.  A great amount of effort has been made to at least partially restore these original broadcasts to a quality not even seen when the episodes originally aired.”  When you watch this there’s a split-screen showing the original content on the left and the restored on the right.
• Flubs (HD) – The Drum Has a Familiar Ring (0:13), They Want Us To Meet Us? (0:08), Not So Fast, Desi! – Part 1 (0:08), No So Fast, Desi! – Part 2 (0:10), The Wrong Drink (2:13) and Who’s “Yorky?” (0:19).
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only) – “The Wills” and “Iris and Liz’s Easter” both play on the main menu screen. “The Wills:” “This episode, originally broadcast on CBS Radio on March 19, 1950, inspired the I Love Lucy episode, “Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her,” as well as a scene in the I Love Lucy pilot.”  “Iris and Liz’s Easter:” “This episode, originally broadcast on CBS Radio on March 24, 1951, and featuring guest-stars Frank Nelson and Shirley Mitchell, inspired the I Love Lucy episode, “The Diet.”
• Behind the Scenes (Audio Book Featurette) – This one is from the audio book Laughs, Luck…and Lucy by Jess Oppenheimer.  Segments include Lucy Loosens Up, Trying for Television, Making the Deal, The Premise, Writing the Pilot, Casting Jerry and The Perfect Title.  These all play through the onscreen menu.
• Special Slide Shows (Audio & Photos) (HD) – Slide Show 1 “Rehearsing the Pilot” and Slide Show 2 “Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her” both include text and behind-the-scenes photos.
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – Here we have a collection of profiles, broken down by episode: The “I Love Lucy” Pilot: Narrator – Bob LeMond, Jerry, The Agent – Jerry Hausner,and Pepito, The Clown – Himself; from “Be a Pal”: Hank – Richard J. Reeves and Charlie – Tony Michaels; from “The Diet”: Marco, The Piano Player – Marco Rizo and from “Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her”: Jerry, The Agent – Jerry Hausner and Dog Act – Hector and His Pals.
• Sponsor Talent (HD)
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

*

Disc Two:

• On-Set Color Home Movies (HD, 3:19) – “On October 12, 1951, three days before I Love Lucy premiered, Desilu filmed Episode 6, “The Audition.”  An enterprising member of the studio audience secretly brought a 16mm movie camera with him into the bleachers that evening, and when no one was looking, he managed to take a few “home movies” as the filming proceeded.  Gregg Oppenheimer, son of series producer and head writer Jess Oppenheimer, discovered and obtained this rare color footage in 2006.  It is presented here, edited together with scenes from the actual show.  The gentleman on the set with the Arnazes between the scenes is the show’s director, Marc Daniels.  This unusual film is the only known color footage of the Tropicana and Ricardo apartment sets.”
• The Sunday Lucy Show (SD, 4:21) – “In the spring of 1955, with I Love Lucy continuing on CBS Monday Nights at 9PM (EST), the network launched a “new” Lucy repeat series that aired every Sunday evening at 6PM so younger viewers could watch and so that viewers of all ages could enjoy again the early first-season Lucy programs.  The series was titled The Sunday Lucy Show.  New opening and closing materials were prepared for the broadcasts.”  This extra only includes clips from the show.
• Flubs (HD) – Audience Participation (0:13) and A Lengthy Ladder (0:29).
• Meet Marc Daniels (HD) – This one is a text biography of director Marc Daniels.
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only) – Like on Disc 1 all three of these: “Anniversary Presents,” “Numerology,” and “George is Messy” play through on the main menu along with text.
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – The following are text profiles: “The Quiz Show”: Freddie Fillmore – Frank Nelson, Announcer – Lee Millar, Mrs. Peterson – Hazel Pierce, Harold, The Tramp – John Emery and Arnold, The First Husband – Phil Ober; “The Audition”: Buffo, The Clown – Pat Moran, TV Network Rep #1 – Jess Oppenheimer, TV Network Rep #2 – Harry Ackerman, TV Network Rep #3 – Hal Hudson, Stagehand – Bennett Green; “The Séance”: Mr. Merriweather – Jay Novello; “Men Are Messy”: Kenny, The Press Agent – Kenny Morgan, Jim White, The Photographer – Lewis Martin, Maggie – Hazel “Sunny” Boyne and from “The Fur Coat”: Thief – Ben Welden.
• Sponsor Talent (HD) – Johnny Roventini, John Stephenson, Jay Jackson and Bob Shepard.
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

*

Disc Three:

• Flubs (HD) – Desi Can’t Miss (0:13) and Quiet on the Set (0:15).
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only): The following two segments play onscreen with selective text: “Valentine’s Day” and “Liz Has the Flimjabs.”
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – The onscreen text profiles here include: “Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer”: Rosemary – Helen Silver; “Drafted”: Party Guest – Hazel Pierce, Santa Claus (Tag Scene) – Vernon Dent; “The Adagio”: Jean Valjean Raymand – Shepard Menken; “The Amateur Hour”: Mrs. Hudson – Gail Bonney, Timmy Hudson – David Stollery, Jimmy Hudson – Sammy Ogg and from “Lucy Plays Cupid”: Miss Lewis – Bea Benaderet, Mr. Ritter – Edward Everett Horton.
• Sponsor Talent (HD) – Johnny Roventini, John Stephenson, Jay Jackson, and Bob Shepard.
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

*

Disc Four:

• Flubs (HD) – Fred’s Getaway (0:12), Jumpin’ Jack Flash (0:09), A Good Cover Story (0:18) and Vanishing Cream (0:20).
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only) – I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but I need to emphasize that the following one show plays onscreen with text: “Liz Teaches the Samba.”
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – The onscreen text profiles here include: “Lucy Fakes Illness”: Hal March – Himself; “Lucy Writes a Play”: Club Chairwoman – Myra Marsh, Stage Manager – Maury Thompson; “Breaking the Lease”: Bum – Bennett Green, First Party Guest – Barbara Pepper, Second Party Guest – Hazel Pierce; “The Ballet”: Madame LeMond – Mary Wickes, Burlesque Comic – Frank Scannell; “The Young Fans”: Peggy Dawson – Janet Waldo, Arthur Morton – Richard Crenna and from “New Neighbors”: Tom O’Brien – Hayden Rorke, Mrs. O’Brien – K.T. Stevens, Sergeant Morton – Allen Jenkins.
• Sponsor Talent (HD) – Johnny Roventini, Jay Jackson and Frank Simms.
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

*

Disc Five:

• Flubs (HD) – We Got Married ‘Where?’ (0:25), It’s About Four Blocks (0:18) and Desi Forgets His Spanish (0:55).
• Clowning Around – Pictures from the set with text.
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only) – This onscreen radio selection is titled “The Marriage License.”
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – “Fred and Ethel Fight”: Soda Jerk – Hazel Pierce; “The Moustache”: Mr. Murdoch – John Brown; “The Gossip”: Mr. Foster – Richard J. Reeves, First Party Guest – Barbara Pepper, Second Party Guest – Hazel Pierce; “The Ballet”: Milkman – Bobby Jellison; “Pioneer Women”: Mrs. Pettebone – Florence Bates, Mrs. Pomerantz – Ruth Perrott; “The Marriage License”: Bert Willoughby – Irving Bacon, Mrs. Willoughby – Elizabeth Patterson; “The Kleptomaniac”: Dr. Tom Robinson – Joseph Kearns and from “Cuban Pals”: Carols Ortega – Alberto Orin, Maria Ortega – Rita Condé, Renita Perez – Lita Baron and Sergeant Morton – Allen Jenkins.
• Sponsor Talent (HD) – Johnny Roventini, John Stephenson and Frank Simms.
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

*

Disc Six:

• Flubs (HD) – Where’s Lucy (0:25) and Call Me “Mauriece” (0:20).
• Audio Commentary – “This audio documentary, produced in 1991 for inclusion on the Criterion Collection’s I Love Lucy LaserDisc, includes comments by writers Bob Carroll Jr. and Madelyn Pugh Davis, stage manager Herb Browar, actors Jerry Hausner and Ross Elliott, and TV historian Bart Andrews.”
• Fancy Editing (HD) – “Lucy Does a TV Commercial” (1:49) and “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio” (1:07).
• Lucy on the Radio (Audio Only): These audio segments onscreen include”Selling Dresses,” “Quiz Show,” “Time Budgeting” and “George Tries for a Raise.”
• Behind the Scenes (Audio Book Featurette) – Here some clips from the audio book Laughs, Luck…and Lucy by Jess Oppenheimer. The clips include Writing “The Freezer” (Part 1), Writing “The Freezer” (Part 2) and Writing “Lucy Does a TV Commercial.”
• Guest Cast Profiles (HD) – “The Freezer”: 1st Delivery Man – Frank Sully, 2nd Delivery Man – Bennett Green, Butcher – Fred Aldrich, 1st Woman in Butcher Shop – Hazel Pierce, 2nd Woman in Butcher Shop – Kay Wiley, 3rd Woman in Butcher Shop – Barbara Pepper; “Lucy Does a TV Commercial”: Ross Elliott, The Director – Ross Elliott, Joe, The Propman – Jerry Hausner, Maury, The Script Clerk – Maury Thompson, Sound Man (Voice) – Jess Oppenheimer; “The Publicity Agent”: Reporter – Peter Leeds, Photographer – Bennett Green, 1st Assassin (Mr. Foster) – Richard J. Reeves, 2nd Assassin (Joe) – Gil Herman; “Lucy Gets Ricky on the Road”: Freddy Fillmore – Frank Nelson, Office Boy – Bobby Ellis, Radio Announcer – Roy Rowan; “Lucy’s Schedule”: Alvin Littlefield – Gale Gordon, Phoebe Littlefield – Edith Meiser; “Ricky Thinks He’s Getting Bald”: Mr. Thurlow – Milton Parsons and “Ricky Asks For a Raise”: Alvin Littlefield – Gale Gordon, Phoebe Littlefield – Edith Meiser, Maurice, The Headwaiter – Maurice Marsac.
• Sponsor Talent (HD) – Johnny Roventini, John Stephenson, Frank Simms and Roy Rowan.
• Production Notes (HD)
• Photo Gallery
• Take a Bow – Credits.

Summary 

For the diehard fans of I Love Lucy who have been anxiously and patiently waiting for this legendary sitcom to hit the Blu-ray format this one is a no-brainer for you all.  Actually, it should be a no-brainer for anyone that’s interested in collecting the finest television shows on the greatest High-Definition home media format.  I know the price tag is a little steep for this one, but look at everything you’re getting with it up above.  My carpal tunnel pains that I have suffered throughout from all this endless typing up above to bring you the finest review around should warrant the cost alone.  No?  LOL.  You know what to do.  This one has been out for two months now.  I apologize about the delay in posting the review, but maybe after reading about everything you’re getting here you can understand why it took so long.  Enjoy this Blu-ray set!  I have and will for years to come!